Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/115

 The Otter, an aquatic and carnivorous animal, is found in many places in Europe and Asia. There are several varieties, all of them having great swimming and diving powers. They attain a length of two and a half feet, with a strong, thick tail, about half as long as the body; a broad, flat head; very short rounded cars, and the long body covered with beautiful chestnut fur. The legs are very short, but strong; the feet are not only webbed, but are armed with formidable claws. Indeed, in strength and agility, keen scent, acute hearing, and general cunning, the otter deserves a high rank among mammals. It is what boys would call a 'never-say-die animal;' so that an otter-hunt is a very attractive pursuit to men who do not object, after a long day's sport, to come home drenched to the skin, if not covered with mud, and perhaps without having killed an otter after all. For the otter always makes a brave struggle for freedom and life. When once it reaches its hole on the bank of the stream, it is not to be dislodged without heavy work while after it is dislodged, so sharp is it, that though the dogs are keenly on the watch, it again takes to the water like a flash of lightning, and the chase has to be begun all over again.

To ensure a successful otter-hunt, much depends upon the dogs. The true otter-hound is a hardy, rough-coated animal, nearly, two feet high, and very game. The hunters are armed with spears, and one can easily imagine that a great deal of shouting and yelling attends the chase.

The otter is very destructive to fish of all kinds, and it has the good taste to prefer a salmon if it can find one. It has also this peculiarity, that it kills and tears to pieces many more fish than it can devour, and also that it always eats the prime parts only, while it leaves the more worthless morsels to the kites and crows.

It is really a very inspiriting scene to see six or eight couples of wiry otter-hounds on a fine summer morning – for it is in summer that this sport is carried on. As the men of the party gather together the dogs cannot be prevented from showing their interest by yelps of pleasure; while the whip keeps them in order the hunters are ready to start.

A crowd of onlookers always collect in the background, armed with sticks and eager for sport. At a given signal off they go, the men on the riverbank hunting about among the bushes, hoping to see some trace of the otter, the dogs in the water eagerly sniffing about, when suddenly there is one prolonged shout – the otter has been seen, his round head just above water for a moment; but the next moment; a sudden plump is heard, and the agile creature has dived again, and every hound is after it, the men pursuing as